Johana Tablada de la Torre, a prominent official from Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a scathing response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent comments urging Havana to "make a deal before it's too late."
On her Facebook account, the Cuban ambassador to Mexico and deputy director for North America at the MINREX, boldly declared: "Upon reading the Sunday threat to Cuba from the head of the United States' cartel of bullies, it is time for: Homeland or Death, We Will Win!"
The post swiftly triggered a deluge of coordinated reactions from regime-aligned profiles, described by many users as the activation of the "cyber catfish" brigade — digital commentators tasked with amplifying the official narrative across social media platforms.
Within less than an hour, hundreds of messages echoed the same slogans: "#CubaStandsFirm," "#NoOneSurrendersHere," "#HomelandOrDeathWeWillWin," alongside other variations of the Fidelista mantra.
Several users quoted figures like José Martí and Antonio Maceo, while others shared images featuring patriotic slogans, monuments, and flags, following the usual pattern of digital mobilization the regime employs whenever it senses an external threat.
Tablada de la Torre's defiant tone and the orchestrated response align with the political tension in Havana, following Washington's accusations that directly implicate Cuba in maintaining networks of security and repression in Venezuela during the tenures of Chávez and Maduro.
While Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla preferred a more diplomatic approach, denying that Cuba received payments for security services, Tablada embraced the classic combative rhetoric of the Castro era.
Her message, amplified by the digital chorus of loyalists, aimed to project an image of resilience. Yet, in the current context, it appeared more like a desperate defense than a heroic challenge.
On social media, many users mocked: "If they've activated the catfish, it means the water is already up to their necks."
Cuba's Digital Response to U.S. Tensions
What was Johana Tablada's response to Donald Trump?
Johana Tablada responded to Trump by declaring "Homeland or Death, We Will Win!" on Facebook, criticizing his comments as threats from the "head of the United States' cartel of bullies."
How did Cuban social media users react to Tablada's post?
Cuban social media users reacted by posting coordinated messages with slogans like "#CubaStandsFirm" and shared patriotic content, indicating a digital mobilization effort.